KANGAR: A contractor lost RM1,448,000 to a phone scam involving the impersonation of officers from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and police.
The 68-year-old woman received a phone call on March 12 before she fell for the scam.
According to Padang Besar police chief ACP Mohd Shokri Abdullah, an elaborate trap was set by a caller posing as an MCMC Cyberjaya representative, who claimed that the victim’s phone number was involved in a fraud case worth RM200,000.
The caller then transferred the call to a supposed “Sarawak contingent police headquarters” for further investigation.
The victim then spoke to a man impersonating a police officer who claimed that her phone number was linked to a drug distribution case and that an ATM card in her name was found.
She received instructions to buy a SIM card and open two bank accounts for the purpose of investigation.
The next day, the woman was told to leave her SIM card, ATM card and PIN at a specific location in Tasik Melati, Beseri, near Padang Besar, Bernama reported.
Four days later, she was directed to transfer money into the accounts in 10 transactions.
On April 14, when she noticed suspicious transactions, the victim filed a police report.
An investigation paper has been opened under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which governs cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.
Those guilty could be jailed for a term not less than one year and not more than 10 years and with whipping, and shall also be liable to a fine.
